Storage cabinet



m 355 n. CARANI STORAGE CABINET Filed April 7, 1954 F'\ G. INVENTOR.ATnuo D. CARAW BY (gal United Stt This invention relates to a storagecabinet and has for its object to provide a cabinet for the storage ofgarbage or refuse cans.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel form of storagecabinet wherein may be supported a pair of conventional garbage canswhereby the cans will be fully enclosed and adequately protected againstinsects, animals or the like.

The invention further has for its object a novel form of storage cabinetthat is provided with closure doors upon its opposite ends, and whereinis disposed a shiftable platform upon which garbage cans or the like aresupported, and with means operable from the outside of the cabinet andby the foot of the operator whereby the platform may be shiftableoutwardly at either end to fully expose its supported garbage can, withthe operating means being automatically retrievable in a manner thatcauses the platform to be retracted into the cabinet to permit theautomatic closure of the closure doors.

The invention further contemplates a novel actuating mechanism for thecontrol of the horizontal shiftable platform that is antifrictionallysupported within the cabinet to be alternately projected beyond eitherend, and with the platform being so supported as to avoid any tilting ordisarrangement of the platform when projected, due to the weight of asupported can thereon.

The invention further contemplates a novel form of cabinet that isornamental in appearance and will effectively protect the garbage cansand their contents, regardless of whether or not the can is equippedwith a cover, and with the cabinet provided with ventilating means forpermitting a free circulation of air therethrough, and with the cabinetlikewise adapted to support a suitable deodorant device therein.

Novel features of construction and operation will be more clearlyapparent during the course of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated apreferred form of the device and wherein like characters of referenceare employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cabinet constructed in accordance withthe invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view thereof, taken on line2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 2 and,

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates acabinet as a Whole formed of any desirable material and preferablyrectangular in shape. The cabinet includes a bottom 6, front and rearwalls 7 and 8 and a closure top 9. The opposite ends of the cabinet areformed open and normally closed by hinged closure doors 10 that arespring actuated to the closed position in any desirable manner. Legs 11may be employed to support the cabinet in elevated position above theground. It is contemplated that the cabinet shall be formed of metal,concrete or any other desirable material having sufficient rigidity andwhich will be relatively unaffected by the weather.

Disposed within the cabinet and in spaced relation to the bottom 6 is anelongated platform 12 likewise formed of metal or other materialcalculated to support a pair of garbage cans in spaced relation, andwhich will be relatively unaffected by moisture or foreign elements. Theplatform 12 is slightly narrower in width. than the width of the cabinetand has a length that extends for the major length of the cabinet toterminate adjacent each of the closure doors 10. The platform isprovided with a pair of outwardly opening channel members 13 thatparallel the longitudinal marginal edges of the platform for their fulllength. Each of the channels 13 engage over a plurality of antifrictionrollers 14 journalled upon stub shafts 15 carried by the vertical websof angle irons 16 and with the angle irons being rigidly connected andcoextensive with the bottom 6. The antifric'tion rollers 14, hereindicated as being six in number upon each side of the platform, serveto support the platform and its supported garbage can against tiltingwhen the platform is projected outwardly in a manner to be presentlydescribed.

Disposedinwardly of the cabinet, intermediate its ends, is a relativelylarge grooved pulley 17. The pulley 17 lies adjacent the inner side ofthe front wall 7 and is journalled for rotation in a bearing 18 carriedby the wall. A shaft 19, journalled in the bearing 1:8, is keyed orotherwise connected to the pulley 17 and projects outwardly beyond thebearing 18. Rigidly connected with the shaft 19 is a cross-arm 2-0. Thearm 20 is connected with the shaft 19 intermediate its ends. Pivotallyconnected with the opposing ends of the arm 20, as at 21, are links 22;,the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected, as at 23, to treadlearms 24. The treadle arms 24 intermediate their length are pivotallyconnected, as at 25, to fixed brackets 26, carried upon the front wall7. The arms 24 at their free end carry treadle plates 27. Springs 28 areconnected at one end to pins 29 upon the forward wall 7, and at theiropposite ends are connected to the cross-arm 2t! inwardly of the pivotalpoints 21. It is contemplated that the springs 28 shall be identicallytensioned, whereby the arm 20 in a position at rest will besubstantially horizontally disposed. Wrapped about the pulley 17 is acable 30 the opposite ends of which extend in opposite directions forconnection with pins 31 that are fixed adjacent the opposite ends of theplatform 12. The front and rear walls 7 and 8 may be provided withventilating and air circulating openings 32, covered by insect screening33. Any suitable deodorizer may be supported beneath the top of thecabinet 9, as indicated at 34.

In the use of the device, any conventional type of gar bage or refusecan is supported adjacent the opposite ends of the platform 12, asindicated clearly in Figures 3 and 4. With the parts at rest, theplatform 12 is wholly dis posed Within the cabinet and the springactuated doors are in the closed position effectively protecting thecans and their contents against insects and animals. Now, when it isdesired to place garbage or the like into either of the cans, theoperator steps upon either one of the treadle plates 27, rocking the arm24 upwardly together with its link 22 and shifting the cross-arm 2 6 ina vertical are to rock the shaft 19. Rocking of the shaft 1) impartsrotation to the pulley i7, winding upon one end of the cable 3% andfeeding at the opposite end. Such action shifts the platform and itssupported cans over the rollers 14 to project beyond the end of thecabinet a distance to fully expose the particular garbage can. Movementof the platform in its outward direction engages and swings itsparticular door outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. Afterthe garbage has been placed within the can, the operator removes hisfoot from the treadle plate and permits the spring 28 to pull thecross-arm 2%) downwardly which action, through the medium of the shaft19, rotates the pulley 17 in the opposite direction to draw the platforminwardly to its original position and permitting the spring actuateddoor to fully close the end of the cabinet, thus permitting the completeoperation of the device without requiring the attendant to handle anypart thereof. The operation is identical at either end of the cabinetand in each instance the device is fully automatic to fully retract theplatform and its supported cans for a completely housed arrangement.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of devicehas been provided for the sanitary storage of multiple garbage or refusecans. Under the most favorable conditions, garbage cans are unsightlyand are a hazard to helath in general, due primarily to the breeding offlies and other insects and the frequent upsetting and scattering of thecontents by animals. The device presents an ornamental appearance, iswell ventilated to avoid the generation of excessive heat within thecabinet, is simple to operate, is strong, durable and most effective asa protective medium for the storage of garbage cans. The parts are fewand simple and of such nature as to require little or no attention andwill always assume their fully retracted position upon release of thetreadle bars 24.

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precisearrangement shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fallwtihin the spirit of the invention as determined by the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what i claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A housing for a plurality of receptacles that is open at its ends andclosed by spring loaded closure doors, a platform disposed within thehousing and which supports a receptacle adjacent each end, the platformbeing shiftable in opposite directions to be projected alternatelybeyond the ends of the housing for fully exposing a receptacle, commoncontrol means for shifting the platform in either direction and manuallyactuated means adjacent each end of the housing that has connection withthe common control means.

2. A housing for a plurality of receptacles that is open at its ends andclosed by spring loaded closure doors, a receptacle supporting platformhorizontally disposed within the housing and which is shiftable inopposite directions to extend alternately through the open ends of thehousing to expose a supported receptacle, a pulley rotatably supportedwithin the housing, flexible means engaged with the pulley and with theopposite ends of the platform, a cross arm disposed outwardly of thehousing to rotate the pulley in opposite directions for shifting andalternately extending the opposite ends of the platforms to expose areceptacle, cranks disposed outwardly of the housing adjacent oppositeends and with the cranks being connected with the opposite ends of thecross arm whereby the cross arm may be rocked in opposite directions tocontrol the direction of shifting of the platform, spring means forreturning and yieldably retaining the platform and its supportedreceptacles in a normally fully housed position, the housing providedwith air circulating openings.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the platform isantifrictionally supported and wherein the shifting movement of theplatform causes the closure doors to move to an open position, thecranks being provided 5 with treadles at their free ends for engagementby a foot of an operator.

4. A. storage cabinet for a plurality of garbage cans that comprises ahousing having top and bottom walls and side walls, the cabinet beingopen at its opposite ends and closed by hinged spring loaded doors, aplatform disposed within the cabinet and extending for the major lengththereof, the platform being in parallel spaced relation to the bottom ofthe cabinet, anti-friction rollers carried by the bottom adjacent eachside, means carried by the platform that engages the rollers whereby theplatform is horizontally shiftable and guided and supported by therollers, a pulley rotatably supported within the cabinet and having ashaft that is journalled in a side wall to project outwardlytherebeyond, a cable wound about the pulley and having its free endsconnected to the opposite ends of the platform, a cross-arm rigidlyconnected intermediate its ends to the projecting shaft for rocking in avertical plane to rotate the pulley, a pair of foot bars pivotallysupported upon the wall, links pivotally connecting the inner ends ofeach foot bar with an adjacent free end of the cross-head, retractilespring connected with the wall of the cabinet and with the cross-head tourge the cross-head and its associated pulley to a neutral position uponthe removal of pressure upon a foot bar, the platform being shiftableupon rotation of the pulley in either direction to project the platformoutwardly beyond the end of the cabinet to fully expose a garbage cansupported thereon, the walls of the cabinet being ventilated.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the cabinet is rectangularin shape and wherein the platform is elongated and rectangular in shapefor the detachable support of a garbage can adjacent each end, therollers being rotatable upon horizontal stub-shafts carried by angleirons rigidly mounted upon the bottom of the cabinet, the platformprovided with rigid channel members at each side for its full lengththat engage over the rollers, the rollers being plural in number at eachside to support the platform against tilting throughout its movement.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the pulley is grooved and ofa relatively large diameter, the cable being wound about the pulley andits ends extended in opposite directions for connection adjacent theopposite ends of the platform, the rotation of the pulley and theresulting shifting of the platform outwardly to fully expose itsadjacent garbage can and the shifting of the closure doors being againstspring tension, the platform and its supported cans and the closuredoors being antomatically returned to a neutral and fully housedposition upon a release of the foot bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent 60 UNlTED STATES PATENTS

